Previous to World War Two Bristol Airport was situated at Whitchurch (now a sprawling housing estate). It was mainly used for pleasure, air displays and flights to Ireland. As the threat of war intensified flights increased as did security. It was fenced off and eventually its grass runway was concreted over.
It’s not generally known but during WW2 Bristol airport was the only civilian airport still open and the reason is interesting. From Bristol – although not entirely out of range of bombing raids – it was capable of direct flights to neutral countries. One of them was Ireland but the other more important one was Lisbon in neutral Portugal.
It is documented that many celebrities and politicians flew from Bristol to Lisbon and then on to the USA and other places. You saw this happen in the film Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman along with spies, spivs and intrigue.
The same happened at Bristol and although kept very hush hush the intelligence services kept a weather eye on the airport throughout the war. Not all on board were who their documentation said they were.
So there you have it – James Bond types at Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport.
After the war Bristol’s main airport was moved to Lulsgate south of the city off the A38.